Penderecki String Quartet, with Ben Smith, p;iano

Event Details

Event type: Invite Only

The Penderecki String Quartet has been the WLU Quartet In Residence   since 1992. Only violinist Jerzy Kaplanek is from the original group as it was in Poland before they left for the U.S. and then Canada. The K-W Chamber Music Society has devloped an extremely close relationship with this wonderful quartet. usually sponsooring concerts by them three or four t imes a year. Or more! They toour all over the world and are undooubtedly one of Canada's very finest string qauartets.

"Described as having “scintillating technique” (Barrie Examiner), pianist Benjamin Smith has performed both as soloist and chamber musician across Canada and the United States. He has been a laureate of numerous competitions, including the Dublin International Piano Competition, the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, and the CMC Stepping Stone Competition. Guest appearances include the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble ....

Dr. Smith currently resides in Toronto, maintaining a concert schedule and serving on the faculties of both the Glenn Gould School (GGS) and the Taylor Young Artist Academy at the Royal Conservatory. Previously, he held a position on the piano faculty at Western University. His principal teachers included Andrea Battista, James Anagnoson, Julian Martin, and Christina Dahl. Along with a DMA from Stony Brook University, he holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Toronto, an Artist Diploma from the GGS, and a Masters from Juilliard.

PROGRAM: César Franck’s Piano Quintet, Milhaud La création du monde Op.81a for piano quintet, and Ravel String Quartet. The Franck Quintet is a massivde work and very demanding - it takes a Ben Smith to play it! The other two works are recognized masterpieces from French music, known and played the world over.